A picture of DHS taken in 1939.

The original building for DHS was built in 1908, in the present location of the Municpal Offices.

The original tender called for a four room school, but only two rooms on the first floor were to be initially built. The building was completed and occupied by the fall of 1908. (more information at the bottom of page)

By 1912, the second floor was completed and another two classrooms were added to the school. By 1916, enrollment had increased to 194 students. This meant that over 40 students were seated for instruction in each classroom. Multiple grades were taught.

With the construction of Albert Street elementary school in 1923, the Van Horne building was exclusively used for upper and continuation school education.

Between 1925 and 1930, several improvements were made to the building:

· Sewer and running water were installed. ( a few alumni state that outhouses were used during the 1940s ?)

· The wooden steps in the front were replaced by concrete ones.

· Imitation brick siding was added.

· The flight of stairs on the south side was removed to allow for the construction of an office.

· In 1930, the unused upper room was utilized as a gym for indoor sports.

By the end of World War II, one of the two rooms on the upper floor was converted to a science lab. The room on the second floor (northwest corner?) that was used as a gymnasium was now used as class room for Grade 12 and 13. One source states that there were up to 36 Grade 12 students in the class. From the late 1930’s until 1950, students used the “Teen Canteen” building located by the Wabigoon River as the gymnasium. This meant a daily walk to and from the school to the “Teen Canteen” even in inclement weather. Students did not have lockers, rather they were assigned desks where they kept their belongings for the year.

Students did not rotate to different classes as they do today, only teachers did. Rotation of students to different rooms started with the addition of the "chicken coop".

By 1947, another classroom was added in the basement beside a furnace. Many senior alumni to this day vividly remember the incredible heat that one had to endure in that basement classroom.

Up to 1935, the school was known as a Continuation School (DCS), offering a “Second Class Matriculation” diploma by the end of Grade 12. In 1935, the school officially became a high school (DHS) offering a “First Class Matriculation” diploma by the end of Grade 13.

The school evolved to a High School in 1935. Miss Molly Hasard moved to Alberta in 1939 and was replaced as principal of the school by Mr. J.D. Smith.
Mr. JD Smith (left), Mr. Gordon Wood (center). Ward Scott.(see note at bottom)

Ward Scott: Mr. Scott was a popular teacher of English at DHS, and a very gifted musician. Under the guidance of Mr. Scott, the Argosy was first published as a yearbook in 1939-1940 with Betty (Brown) Hawke as the editor in chief.